Women in Funeral Service Member Spotlight

Barbara Risher Welch, 2026 President of Selected Independent Funeral Homes

How I started in the funeral profession:

When I was 3 years old, my parents purchased a mortuary, and we moved into one of the two apartments on top of the mortuary. I lived there until entering junior high when my parents bought a home in the same city. I was excited that my friends would finally come for sleepovers. When my husband and I were married in 1982, we moved into the same apartment I grew up in.

I worked in our family's business from junior high on and after graduating with my bachelor's degree in nursing, I became a Licensed Funeral Director in the early 1980s. I worked in both professions for many years. Working as an Emergency Room RN three 12-hour shifts per week allowed me time to also work in the family business.

The part of my work that is most fulfilling:

The most fulfilling part of my work is ministering to families with broken hearts. As a Christian, I feel I have been called to be in this caring and compassionate profession. I am often asked how I can work in such a depressing field, and whether it takes its toll on me. My response is that by helping the family to celebrate the life of their loved one, I can help ease their burden and give them some comfort. In being there alongside the family members, I am comforted knowing I have been allowed to be a part of their healing process.

A challenge in my career and how I overcame it:

The biggest challenge my husband and I had when we took over my family business was regarding some very difficult staffing decisions we had to make. They were decisions necessary for the viability of the mortuary.

A lesson that shaped how I serve and lead today:

Watching and learning from my parents for many years, the lessons I learned from them are to give the grieving family the time they need in the arrangement, listen to them intently, and be there for them, holding their hand all along the way. They should feel as though they are the only family we are working with at that time and can give them our full attention.

A piece of advice I would give to women new to the funeral profession:

I have the opportunity to mentor many young women entering the funeral profession because we have a close relationship to the local mortuary college. I love this opportunity to share our family-owned business with them, showing them many aspects of the funeral profession and enhancing their future in the industry.

What is one piece of advice I wish I would’ve received earlier:

When I entered the funeral industry full time, it was a male-dominated profession. I was intimidated by all the men I worked with. It took quite some time to be accepted by my colleagues. I wish someone had given me the advice to stand tall, be persistent, be compassionate in what I do, and the rest will fall into place. And it did. Who knew back then that now there are many more females graduating from mortuary college than men and that one day I would become the 2nd woman President of Selected Independent Funeral Homes.

A resource that has inspired/helped me:

My parents are my main inspiration and have helped me grow in the funeral business. I attended UCLA, where John Wooden became another huge inspiration for me. I have his “pyramid of success” hanging in my office where it shows his “12 lessons in leadership.” Another person who has inspired me is John C. Maxwell, the author of "Leadership 101" and many other leadership books.

A habit or practice that keeps me grounded and prevents burnout:

I try the best I can to take care of myself by staying active, working out, doing Pilates and spending time with my family. My faith is what gets me through the toughest of times.

Something people may be surprised to learn about me:

I have scuba dove with sharks. The biggest physical challenge I’ve achieved was to hike Half Dome in Yosemite with my entire family.

What does being part of the Women in Funeral Service community mean to me:

I am very happy to be a part of such a great, talented and like-minded group of women. This is the only organization I am involved with who has a women-only group within its organization. It is a safe place for women to talk about the challenges we might have in our funeral homes and share ideas with other women who might have similar issues. Women have come a long way and are evolving positively in this formerly male-dominated profession.